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Re: RAF Waterbeach

Famous WW2 bomber airfield, RAF Waterbeach, near Cambridge, is scheduled to close with the transfer of a Royal Engineers' unit to Kinloss in northern Scotland. Following the move, there are plans for the creation of vast number of houses on the land. Locals are opposed both to the closure of the base, as well as the proposed housing scheme. The former airfield is still very visible with all types of buildings, which could easily have alternative uses. ABCT is doing everything possible to save this historic site.

Visiting RAF Waterbeach

Hello all,

Hi there. So I finally got round to joining....

I've been a volunteer at RAF Waterbeach Museum at the Barracks since 2006. Shortly after I became the Hon Curator, taking over from a civilian member of 12 Engineer Group (Air Support) who are the brigade level RE unit running Waterbeach Station. He continued as OiC (officer in charge). I have no armed forces background, but I have worked in libraries and archives in Cambridge University, Middlesex University and local industry. Originally I trained in plant biology at university!

As you can imagine I had a steep learning curve, but had the advantage of access to the University Library in Cambridge. Soon after I met John Hamlin who lives locally. Together we published an updated version of John's 1987 booklet:

Hamlin, John F., with Oliver J. Merrington
At the 'Beach: the story of Royal Air Force Waterbeach and Waterbeach Barracks.
Peterborough: GMS Enterprises, 2011.
ISBN 1904514634
£9.95 from me, John or Graham.

And the year after the government announced that Waterbeach Barracks was to close in 2013 - see subsequent messages from me.
The Museum is closing too, at the end of September. If you would like to visit before then, seehttp://homepage.ntlworld.com/oliver....museum2012.pdf
Or you can get my email address & phone number from Richard F, Paul F or John H.

Richard & I are planning an article in a future issue of Airfield Review.

Re: RAF Waterbeach

End of an era....
Our Gate Guardian (Hunter WN 904) is to be removed by its owner, the IWM, on Thursday morning, 2 Aug.
Spectators welcome, please park on Waterbeach village green and walk up to the barracks. Myself & John Hamlin should be around.

WN 904 was built by Armstrong Whitworth at Coventry and delivered to the RAF in September 1954. Until sustaining severe damage in January 1956 it served with No 257 Squadron at RAF Wattisham in Suffolk. After repair by the manufacturer, it was stored until 1958. With maintenance number 7544M it then served as an instructional airframe at the RAF Melksham School of Technical Training. In 1974 the Ministry of Defence transferred the aircraft to the Imperial War Museum.
It not known where the IWM will display or store the aircraft after removal (and repainting, presumeably).

Re: RAF Waterbeach

Yes, the Hunter was removed today by IWM staff and taken by road with wings removed on a low loader to Sywell Aviation Museum. Photos to follow. It has been donated to Sywell so is no longer owned by IWM - it will be their first complete airframe. It should have been re-assembled at Sywell by the time you read this.